Process for Stabilizing an Adjuvant Containing Vaccine Composition

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a process for stabilizing an adjuvant containing vaccine composition, an adjuvanted vaccine composition in dry form and in particular a process for stabilizing an influenza vaccine composition, particularly an adjuvanted influenza vaccine composition in dry form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a process for stabilizing an adjuvant containing vaccine composition, an adjuvanted vaccine composition in dry form and in particular a process for stabilizing an influenza vaccine composition, particularly an adjuvanted influenza vaccine composition in dry form.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,838 discloses a method of pelletizing analytical or immunological reagents by freezing droplets of solutions in a freezing medium, such as liquid nitrogen, and subsequent freeze drying in order to obtain freeze-dried, reagent containing micro-particles, spherical beads or lyospheres. EP 0 081 913 B1 describes a method for producing spherical frozen particles by freezing droplets in an inert liquid freezing medium with a higher density than the droplets and removing the frozen particles from the surface of the liquid freezing medium. WO 94/25005 discloses the stabilization of gonadotropin in lyospheres, a method for making such lyospheres and pharmaceutical preparations comprising the same. EP 0 799 613 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,852) discloses a vaccine pack that comprises a vaccine container containing one or more freeze-dried bodies containing the vaccine components, at least one of which being a lyosphere or micro-particle having a diameter of at least 0.2 mm. WO 2006/008006 (US 2008/0060213) discloses a process for producing containers filled with a freeze-dried product wherein droplets of the product are frozen to form pellets, the pellets are freeze dried, assayed and loaded into the containers. Other techniques for obtaining frozen particles or pellets are known for application in the food industry (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,673 or US 2007/0281067 A1).

The freeze drying technology allows improving the stability of a lot of products which can be a vaccine with or without adjuvant. For example EP 0 475 409 discloses a method for preserving a buffer and optionally a cryoprotectant containing suspension of microscopic biological material by nebulizing the suspension to microdroplets, freezing the droplets on a rotating cryogenic surface and drying the microdroplets. Preferably the droplets have a diameter of about less than 200 μm.

The freeze-drying of flu antigens has been studied in the literature and a detailed review is available (Amorij et al. 2008: Development of stable Influenza vaccine powder formulations: challenges and possibilities. Pharmaceutical Research, Vol 25, 1256-1273). U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,864 discloses a process for stabilizing influenza virus vaccines essentially by suspending the virus in an aqueous sucrose containing solution and freeze-drying the suspension. Also the stabilization of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids has been discussed in the literature (see e.g. S. P. Schwendeman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 92, pp. 11234-11238, 1995). Very recently, optimized formulations for lyophilizing tetanus toxoid have been proposed (P. Matejtschuk et al. Biologicals 37 (2009) 1-7).

Usually the freeze drying is a final step in the pharmaceutical industry, coming after the filling step in vials, syringes or larger containers. In this case the dried product has to be rehydrated (synonyms in this document: reconstituted or dissolved) before its use.

Freeze drying in the form of micropellets allows the same stabilization of the dried vaccine product as for mere freeze-drying alone or it improves stability for storage. Furthermore, the micropellets technology offers several advantages in comparison to the current freeze drying, since it allows e.g.

-   -   blending of the dried products before filling (or by sequential         filling)     -   titer adjustment before filling (which can be used in case of         stock piling)     -   minimizing the interaction between products (there is only         product interaction after rehydration), and     -   improvement of the stability in some cases.

For these reasons the advantage of the micropellets technology allows several approaches for the drying of adjuvanted vaccine:

-   -   The drying of the antigens together with the adjuvant (being in         the same phase): to stabilize the two (antigens and adjuvant)         and to stabilize the interaction between them by trapping them         in a glassy matrix in which all molecular motions and chemical         reactions are greatly hindered. This solid state allows to         maintain throughout storage (even at higher temperature) potency         of the antigen, physical and immunological properties of the         adjuvant and nature and force of the interaction between the         two.     -   The drying of the antigens and the separate drying of the         adjuvant (antigen and adjuvant being in different phases),         followed by blending of the two before the filling or by a         sequential filling. In some cases, stability of the adjuvant         alone can be a problem (chemical stability of emulsions,         physical stability of aluminum gels, liposomes and others . . .         ) at the liquid state for long-term storage at +5° C. or higher         or at lower temperatures. The micropellet technology allows         improving stability of the adjuvanted vaccine by generating         separate micropellets of antigen and adjuvant. The stabilizing         formulation can be optimized independently for each antigens and         the adjuvant. The micropellets of antigens and adjuvants can be         then subsequently filled into the vials or blended before         filling into the vials. The separated solid state allows to         avoid throughout storage (even at higher temperature)         interactions between antigen and adjuvant, to maintain the         potency of the antigen and physical and the immunological         properties of the adjuvant. In such a configuration, the content         of the vial can be more stable than any other configurations         with either one of the antigens or the adjuvants in the liquid         state or when antigens and adjuvant are dried within the same         pellets. Interactions between antigens and adjuvants are this         way standardized as they occur only after rehydration of the dry         combination with a selected diluent which may comprise water for         injection, buffers and stabilizing excipients. Interactions are         therefore to be controlled only during the short period of time         between rehydration and injection of the vaccine.

It is therefore possible to improve the overall stability of the two products can be improved (optimization of the formulation for each product and not a compromise for the two together) and the vaccine itself, adjust the titer of one out of the two after the storage and before filling, to facilitate the manufacturing process by separation of the two products drying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a process for stabilizing an adjuvant containing vaccine composition comprising the steps of diluting a liquid bulk composition comprising an antigen or an antigenic preparation by an aqueous solution comprising a stabilizer, subjecting the diluted composition to a process in order to form regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles and drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1. illustrates the general formulation and drying procedure.

FIG. 2. illustrates the process used to generate the dry micropellets, including prilling, freezing, drying and filling.

FIG. 3. illustrates the general formulating, freezing and drying procedure comprising an adjuvant.

FIG. 4. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure to produce the antigen containing micropellets,

FIG. 5. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure to produce the adjuvant containing micropellets.

FIG. 6. illustrates the procedure for the combination of the different micropellets in order to complete the dry vaccine.

FIG. 7. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure as described in Example 1.

FIG. 8. shows the narrow size distribution of the micropellets obtained with pelletizing and drying technology as described in Example 1.

FIG. 9. shows the size distribution results after drying of an aluminum phosphate gel in presence of a carbohydrate and using the micropellet technology.

FIG. 10. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure as described in Example 2.

FIG. 11. shows the aluminum oxyhydroxide gel particle size distribution in the formulated bulk before drying and after dissolution of the pellets.

FIG. 12. shows the aluminum oxyhydroxide gel particle size distribution after thermostability incubation for at least 7 days at 37° C., 45° C. and 55° C.

FIG. 13. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure as described in Example 3.

FIG. 14. shows a comparison of the size of the emulsion before rehydration of the micropellets and after dissolution of the micropellets.

FIG. 15. shows the stability of the size of the emulsion after dissolution of the micropellets and over a one hour storage period at room temperature.

FIG. 16. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure as described in Example 4a.

FIG. 17. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure of the formulations containing Diphtheria toxoid and Tetanus toxoid in presence of aluminum gel as described in Example 5.

FIG. 18. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure of the formulations containing Diphtheria toxoid and Tetanus toxoid without aluminum gel as described in Example 5.

FIG. 19. illustrates the formulation and drying procedure of aluminum gel formulation as described in Example 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Suitable vaccine compositions are for example compositions comprising whole viruses or antigens, such as Influenza, Rotavirus, cytomegalo virus, Hepatitis A and B, whole bacteria or bacterial protein or polysaccharide antigens (conjugated or non-conjugated), such as Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcal polysaccharides, Tetanus, Diphteria, cellular and acellular pertussis, Botulism, Anthrax or C. Difficile.

The freezing of the droplets can e.g. be achieved in that the diluted composition, i.e. the formulated liquid product, is prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets which diameter ranges from 200 μm to 1500 μm, with a very narrow size distribution. These droplets fall in a cryogenic chamber in which the temperature is maintained below −110° C. by a freezing medium, either by direct injection/nebulization of liquid nitrogen or by flowing counter currently a very cold (T°<−110° C.) gas such as nitrogen, CO₂ or air. The droplets freeze during their fall in order to form calibrated frozen particles.

Other techniques are known in the art for obtaining calibrated droplets, such as ultrasonic atomization (Sindayihebura D., Dobre M., Bolle L., 1997—Experimental study of thin liquid film ultrasonic atomization. ExHFT'97, Bruxelles.), and, subsequently, calibrated frozen particles or, as mentioned before being known from the food industry, by means of a particular freezing drum as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,673.

The process may further comprise the addition of an aqueous solution comprising one or more adjuvants and, optionally, a stabilizer to the liquid bulk antigen composition.

Alternatively, the process according to the present invention further comprises diluting a separate liquid bulk solution or emulsion of one or more adjuvants by an aqueous solution comprising a stabilizer, subjecting the diluted adjuvant solution or emulsion to a process in order to form regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles, drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm and blending and filling into a vial or other appropriate container together with the antigen containing dry regular spherical micropellets.

The liquid bulk composition may further comprise one or more additional antigens or antigenic preparations, each from a different pathogen or serotype of a pathogen, in order to obtain dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, each comprising two or more antigens or antigenic preparations from two or more different pathogens or serotypes of a pathogen.

Alternatively, the liquid bulk composition comprises an antigen or antigenic preparation from one single pathogen or serotype of a pathogen, in order to obtain dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, each comprising antigens or antigenic preparations from the same pathogen or serotype of a pathogen. In this case the process may optionally further comprise the dosing, blending and filling into a vial or other appropriate container two or more types of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, characterized in that each type of micropellets comprises antigens or antigenic preparations from two or more different pathogens or serotypes of a pathogen.

The process according to the present invention may be further characterized in that the drying occurs by the method of lyophilization (i.e. sublimation of ice and dissorption of bound water). Suitable drying methods are also atmospheric freeze-drying, fluidized bed drying, vacuum rotary drum drying, stirred freeze-drying, vibrated freeze-drying and microwave freeze-drying.

Advantageously, the stabilizer comprises a monosaccharide, such as mannose, an oligosaccharide, such as sucrose, lactose, trehalose, maltose or a sugar alcohol, such as sorbitol, mannitol or inositol, or a mixture of two or more different of these before mentioned stabilizers, such as mixtures of sucrose and trehalose.

Advantageously, the concentration of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols and stabilizing excipients ranges from 2% (w/v) to limit of solubility in the formulated liquid product. In general, the concentration of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols and stabilizing excipients ranges between 5% (w/v) and 40% (w/v), 5% (w/v) and 20% (w/v) or 20% (w/v) and 40% (w/v). Examples for the concentration of a 1:1 mixture of sucrose and trehalose in the formulated liquid product comprising e.g. tetanus or diphtheria toxoids and aluminum gel (AlOOH) are 18.1% (w/v) and 17.5% (w/v), respectively.

The present invention particularly relates to a process for stabilizing an influenza vaccine composition comprising the steps of diluting a liquid bulk composition comprising an influenza antigen or an antigenic preparation from a seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain by an aqueous solution comprising a carbohydrate and/or a sugar alcohol or a mixture of two or more different carbohydrates and/or sugar alcohols in order to obtain a 2% (w/v) to limit of solubility of carbohydrate and/or sugar alcohol content of the resulting diluted composition, subjecting the diluted composition to a process in order to form regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles and drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm.

The liquid bulk composition comprising an influenza antigen or an antigenic preparation from a seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain can be obtained by the method as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,537 (WO 96/05294).

The drying occurs advantageously by the method of lyophilization (i.e. sublimation of ice and dissorption of bound water). Further suitable drying methods for the frozen micropellets are atmospheric freeze-drying, fluidized bed drying, vacuum rotary drum drying, stirred freeze-drying, vibrated freeze-drying, and microwave freeze-drying.

Advantageously, the carbohydrate is a disaccharide, particularly sucrose. Also suitable disaccharides are for example lactose, maltose or trehalose. Also suitable for stabilizing the influenza vaccine composition are monosaccharides, such as mannose, or sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, inositol or mannitol.

Advantageously, the concentration of the carbohydrates or sugar alcohols ranges between 5% and 40% (w/v), alternatively between 5% and 20% (w/v) or between 20% and 40% in the formulated liquid product. Examples for the concentrations of e.g. sucrose in the formulated liquid product are 2% (w/v), 10% (w/v) or 15.4% (w/v).

The liquid bulk composition may further comprise one or more additional influenza antigens or antigenic preparations, each from a different seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain, in order to obtain dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, each comprising two or more influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from two or more different seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strains. In this case the process optionally further comprises dosing and filling the dry regular spherical micropellets or particles into a vial or other appropriate container.

Alternatively, the liquid bulk composition comprises one or more influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from one seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain, in order to obtain dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, each comprising influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from the same seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain. In this case the process may optionally further comprise dosing, blending and filling into a vial or other appropriate container two or more types of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, characterized in that each type of micropellets comprises influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from a different seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain than the other type.

The process optionally further comprises the addition of an aqueous solution comprising one or more adjuvants and, optionally, a stabilizer to the liquid bulk antigen composition.

Alternatively, the process according to the present invention further comprises diluting a separate liquid bulk solution or emulsion of one or more adjuvants by an aqueous solution comprising a stabilizer, subjecting the diluted adjuvant solution or emulsion to a process in order to form regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles, drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm and blending and filling into a vial or other appropriate container together with the antigen containing dry regular spherical micropellets.

Particularly suitable adjuvants are for example liposomes, lipid or detergent micelles or other lipidic particles, polymer nanoparticles or microparticles, soluble polymers, protein particles, mineral gels, mineral micro- or nanoparticles, polymer/aluminum nanohybrids, oil in water or water in oil emulsions, saponin extracts, bacterial cell wall extracts, stimulators of innate immunity receptors, in particular natural or synthetic TLR agonists, natural or synthetic NOD agonists and natural or synthetic RIG agonists. A suitable adjuvant for the process according to the present invention for example is that disclosed in WO 2007/006939.

The influenza virus strains are for example H5N1, H9N2, H7N7, H2N2, H7N1 and H1N1 (Emergence of multiple genotypes of H5N1 avian influenza viruses in Hong Kong SAR: Y Guan et al., 8950-8955, PNAS—Jun. 25, 2002—vol 99 n° 13; H9N2 Influenza A Viruses from Poultry in Asia have Human Virus-like Receptor Specificity: M N Matrosovich, S Krauss and R Webster, Virology 281, 156-162 (2001); Evolution and Ecology of Influenza A Viruses: R Webster et al., Microbiological ReviewsMarch 1992, p. 152-179). Alternatively, it could be an influenza strain selected from the group of the seasonal influenza virus strains.

The influenza antigen can be in a form selected from the group consisting of purified whole influenza virus, inactivated influenza virus or sub-unit components of influenza virus, or a split influenza virus.

The influenza antigen may be derived from cell culture. Alternatively, the influenza antigen is produced in embryonic eggs.

The present invention also concerns a stabilized dry vaccine composition, particularly a stabilized dry influenza vaccine composition or stabilized dry vaccine compositions containing other antigens, such as inactivated whole viruses or antigenic components of viruses, Influenza, Rotavirus, cytomegalo virus and Hepatitis A and B, and whole bacteria or bacterial protein or polysaccharide antigens, conjugated or non-conjugated, such as Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcal polysaccharides, tetanus, diphtheria, cellular and acellular pertussis, Botulism, Anthrax, C. Difficile in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm obtainable by the process according to the present invention.

Advantageously, each regular bead or particle comprises only one type of antigen, for example one or more influenza antigens from only one influenza virus strain or for example only Tetanus or only Diphtheria antigens. Alternatively, each regular bead or particle comprises one or more types of antigens, for example influenza antigens from one or more different influenza virus strains or for example Tetanus and Diphtheria antigens.

The composition may further comprise an adjuvant which is optionally contained in separate dry regular spherical micropellets or particles.

The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation a vaccine comprising the step of reconstitution of the stabilized dry vaccine composition, for example the before mentioned stabilized dry influenza vaccine composition in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles in an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution may optionally comprise an adjuvant.

The present invention further relates to a vaccine kit, comprising a first container containing a stabilized dry vaccine composition, for example a stabilized dry influenza vaccine composition, in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles and a second container containing an aqueous solution for the reconstitution of the vaccine. The kit may further comprise a container containing dry regular spherical micropellets or particles comprising an adjuvant. Alternatively, the aqueous solution comprises an adjuvant.

The present invention also relates to a method of stockpiling a stable dry bulk of antigens wherein the antigen or the antigens is/are stabilized by the method described before and the resulting stabilized dry vaccine composition (e.g. an influenza, diphtheria or tetanus vaccine composition) is reconstituted with an adequate solvent and optionally formulated prior to liquid filling into vials or syringes after storage in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm.

The process for thermo-stabilization of dry vaccine in micro-pellet form according to the present invention is explained in more detail in the following.

In order to be processed by the micro-pellet technology, biological substances such as antigens require to be formulated in order to protect it against the physical and chemical stresses undergone throughout the process.

Formulated liquid products to be dried are obtained by mixing the concentrated vaccine bulk (containing the antigen) and a stabilizing formulation comprising at least one carbohydrate and/or sugar alcohol, so that the formulated liquid product obtained contains the targeted amounts per ml of stabilizing excipients and antigens. The concentration of carbohydrates, sugar alcohols and stabilizing excipients ranges between 2% (w/v) to limit of solubility in the formulated liquid product. To give an example, the concentration at the limit of solubility of sucrose in water at 20° C. is at about 66.7% (w/v).

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the general formulation and drying procedure.

The process as shown in FIG. 2 is used to generate the dry micropellets.

Prilling, also known as laminar jet break-up technique, is a well known technique to generate calibrated droplets of liquid commonly used in the field of biocatalysts and living cells immobilization (Hulst et al., 1985. A new technique for the production of immobilized biocatalyst and large quantities. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 27, 870-876; Gotoh et al., 1993. Mass production of biocatalyst-entrapping alginate gel particles by a forced oscillation method. Chem. Eng. Commun. 120, 73-84; Seifert and Philips, 1997. Production of small, monodispersed alginate beads for cell immobilization. Biotechnol. Prog. 13, 562-568). Lord Rayleigh was the first to analyze instability of capillary jets coming out of a nozzle and to propose a model to describe it (Rayleigh L, 1978. On the stability of jets. Proc. London Math. Soc. 10, 4-13) for Newtonian fluids. Weber (Weber C, 1931. Zum Zerfall eines Flüssigkeitsstrahles. Z. Angew. Math. Mech. 11, 136-154) extended the analysis including the effect of the viscosity. The optimal wavelength for the fastest growing disturbance and jet beak-up is given by:

$\lambda_{opt} = {\pi \cdot \sqrt{2} \cdot d_{j} \cdot \sqrt{1 + \frac{3\eta}{\sqrt{{\rho\sigma}\; d_{j}}}}}$

where λ_(opt) is the optimal wave-length for jet break-up, d_(j) is the diameter of the jet, η is the viscosity of the fluid, ρ is the density of the fluid and σ is the surface tension of the fluid. The diameter d of the droplets formed can be calculated by:

d= ³√{square root over (1.5·d _(j) ²·λ_(opt))}

The frequency f to apply to the fluid to achieve the desired results is related to the jet velocity (and therefore the flow rate of the fluid) u_(j) and the wavelength by:

$\lambda = \frac{u_{j}}{f}$

Therefore; optimal conditions can be calculated knowing process parameters and fluid characteristics. However, a range of frequencies and jet velocities exist to form uniform droplets depending on the nozzle diameter, rheology of the fluid and surface tension (Meesters G., 1992. Mechanisms of droplet formation. Delft University Press, Delft, NL). Suitable working frequencies can be also be determined experimentally by visual assessment of the stability of the droplet formation. Standard prilling equipments are equipped with light stroboscope to observe the droplet formation: for a given product and given working conditions, one can adjust manually the frequency until observing a stable and still droplets chain with this stroboscope light.

Moreover, multinozzle systems have been developed for aseptic prilling applications (Brandenberger H. et al. 1998. A new multinozzle encapsulation/immobilization system to produce uniform beads of alginates. J. Biotechnol. 63, 73-80)

In conclusion, working frequencies can be determined both theoretically and experimentally depending on the available tools and knowledge of the product.

The prilling process is adapted to viscous liquids and saturated sugar solutions. The maximum acceptable viscosity according to current suppliers is approximately 300 mPa·s. Therefore, formulation content can range from very low concentration up to the limit of solubility of the selected excipients at room or processing temperature. Moreover, the temperatures in the process tubing and in the nozzle have to be controlled in order to avoid sugar or solvent crystallization before droplet formation. The person skilled in the art of formulation will adjust different excipient concentrations in the product in order to avoid non-controlled crystallization and viscosities above the given limit, taking into account eventual interactions between excipients.

The formulated liquid product is prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets the diameter of which ranges from 200 μm to 1500 μm, with a very narrow size distribution. These droplets fall in a cryogenic chamber in which temperature is maintained below −110° C. either by direct injection/nebulization of liquid nitrogen or by flowing counter currently a very cold (T°<−110° C.) gas such as nitrogen, CO₂ or air. The droplets freeze during their fall in order to form calibrated frozen particle. The minimum falling height to freeze the droplets (i.e. ice crystals formation that solidifies the pellets) can be minimized by limiting super-cooling. Super-cooling can be reduced by seeding ice nucleation in the droplets either by contact with liquid nitrogen fog or droplets (direct injection of liquid nitrogen in the chamber) or with microscopic ice crystals (direct nebulization of water or superheated steam in the cold chamber).

These frozen particles are then collected and transferred on pre-cooled trays at −50° C. and loading on the pre-cooled shelves of the freeze-drier (−50° C.) in order to always keep the frozen pellets below the glass transition Tg′ of their cryo-concentrated phase (Tg′ value can range from −10° C. to −45° C.) and to avoid any melting or aggregation of the particles. Once the freeze-drier is loaded, vacuum is pulled in the freeze-drying chamber to initiate conventional freeze-drying (sublimation of the ice) of the pellets as know by the state of the art. The following freeze-drying parameters are an example of what can be used for a formulation which Tg′ ranges from −30° C. to −45° C.:

-   -   Primary drying: shelf temperature equal to −35° C., pressure         equal to 50 μbars during 10 h.     -   Secondary drying: shelf temperature equal to 20° C., pressure         equal to 50 μbars during 3 h.

Freeze-drying cycle has to be designed in order to get residual moistures preferentially lower than 3%. However, the moisture content can be optimized at higher value, on a case by case basis, if the stability of the dry antigen requires it.

Other drying technologies such as atmospheric freeze-drying, fluidized bed drying, vacuum rotary drum drying, stirred freeze-drying, vibrated freeze-drying, microwave freeze-drying can be used to dry the pellets.

Dry pellets are then collected in bulk to be analyzed and stored. Storage conditions are suitable for dry, friable and hygroscopic particles. Dry samples are rehydrated prior to analysis using a diluent which may contain water for injection, buffers, stabilizing excipients and adjuvants. Dissolution is instantaneous.

Bulk dry pellets are then filled into vials using dry powder filling technologies that are currently on the market.

Also, in a perspective of stockpiling a stable dry bulk of antigen, the pellets can be reconstituted with adequate solvent and formulated (if needed) prior to liquid filling into vials or into syringes. Thanks to the stability of such pellets, the storage of the stockpile can be performed at +5° C. or higher temperatures, which is more convenient than for a frozen liquid material (−20° C. or lower). Finally, stockpiling dry bulk material is much less space consuming than stockpiling filled dry products in their final container. In the case of adjuvanted vaccine, the stability during storage at +5° C. or higher and lower (freezing) temperature is often a problem when antigens and adjuvants are in the same liquid state. As an example, the table below describes the impact of a freeze-thawing cycle at −20° C. on oxyhydroxyl aluminum gel measured by dynamic light scattering:

Particles size (μm) mean d10 d50 d90 Initial +5° C. 8.9 2.6 4.9 10.3 1 freeze- 49.6 15.3 43.7 92.4 thawing cycle−20° C.

The micropellet technology allows overcoming stability problems with 3 different strategies to be selected on a case by case basis:

1. Drying of the antigens alone under micropellet form and dissolution with the adjuvant (aluminum gel, emulsion, etc.) in the diluent. This strategy is suitable when the antigen stability is increased under micropellet form and when the adjuvant alone is highly thermostable

-   -   No interaction during shelf life     -   Increased stability of each phase when stored independently     -   Standardization of adsorption behavior by extemporaneous         dissolution of the dry antigen with the liquid adjuvant

2. Drying of the antigens with the adjuvant to stabilize both within the same pellet and to stabilize the interaction between them by trapping them in a glassy matrix in which all molecular motions and chemical reactions are greatly hindered. This solid state allows to maintain throughout storage (even at higher temperature) potency of the antigen, physical and immunological properties of the adjuvant and nature and force of the interaction between the two.

3. Drying of the antigens and the separate drying of the adjuvant, followed by blending of the two before the filling or by a sequential filling. In some cases, stability of the adjuvant alone can be a problem (chemical stability of emulsions, physical stability of aluminum gels, liposomes and others . . . ) at the liquid state for long term storage at +5° C. or higher temperatures. The micropellet technology allows improving stability of the adjuvanted vaccine by generating separate micropellets of antigen and adjuvant. Stabilizing formulation can be optimized independently for each antigens and the adjuvant. micropellets of antigens and adjuvants can be then subsequently filled into the vials. The separated solid state allows to avoid throughout storage (even at higher temperature) interactions between antigen and adjuvant, to maintain potency of the antigen and physical and immunological properties of the adjuvant. In such a configuration, the content of the vial is more stable than any other configurations with either one of the antigens or in the adjuvant in the liquid state or when antigens and adjuvant are dried within the same pellets. Interactions between antigens and adjuvants are this way standardized as they occur only after rehydration of the dry combination with a selected diluent which may comprise water for injection, buffers and stabilizing excipients. Interactions therefore exist only during the short period of time between rehydration and injection of the vaccine (fast interactions and very short aging time). It is therefore possible to improve the overall stability of the two products (optimization of the formulation for each product and not a compromise for the two together) and the vaccine itself, adjust the titer of one out of the two after the storage, to facilitate the manufacturing process by separation of the two products drying.

In order to be processed by the micropellet technology, biological substances such as antigens and adjuvants require to be formulated in order to protect them against the physical and chemical stresses undergone throughout the process.

In case of adjuvants, the stabilizing formulation has to maintain their quality during processing (formulation, pelletizing, drying, storage, filling and rehydration)

If the strategy is to dry both antigens and adjuvants in the same micro-pellet, formulated liquid product to be dried is obtained by mixing the concentrated vaccine bulk (containing the antigens), the concentrated adjuvant bulk and a stabilizing formulation comprising at least one carbohydrate and or sugar alcohol, so that the formulated liquid product obtained contains the targeted amounts per ml of stabilizing excipients, adjuvants and antigens. The concentration of the stabilizing excipients ranges between 2% (w/v) and limit of solubility in the formulated liquid product.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the formulation and drying procedure comprising an adjuvant.

If the strategy is to dry antigens and adjuvants in separate micropellets, the formulated liquid product to be dried (comprising the antigens) is obtained by mixing the concentrate vaccine bulk (comprising the antigens) and a stabilizing formulation, so that the formulated liquid product obtained contains the targeted amounts per ml of stabilizing excipients and antigens. The concentration of the carbohydrates and the stabilizing excipients ranges between 2% (w/v) and limit of solubility in the formulated liquid product.

The same way for the adjuvant, the formulated liquid product to be dried is obtained by mixing the concentrated adjuvant bulk and a stabilizing formulation, so that the formulated liquid product obtained contains the targeted amounts per ml of stabilizing excipients and adjuvants. The carbohydrates and stabilizing excipients concentration ranges are between 2% (w/v) and limit of solubility in the formulated liquid product.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the formulation and drying procedure in order to produce the antigen containing micropellets, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the formulation and drying procedure in order to produce the adjuvant containing micropellets. FIG. 6 shows the combination of the different micropellets in order to complete the dry vaccine.

The general process for the generation of the dry micropellets is shown in FIG. 2. It is applicable independently from the chosen strategy for the adjuvanted vaccine.

Fast freezing kinetics of the micro-pellet technology is also adapted for drying adjuvants. As an example, the graph in FIG. 9 shows size distribution results after drying of an aluminum phosphate gel in presence of a carbohydrate and using the micro-pellet technology. It can be seen that drying and rehydration has no significant negative effect on the size distribution of the adjuvant particles.

Suitable adjuvants that may be considered are exemplified in the following:

1) The particulate adjuvants such as: liposomes and in particular cationic liposomes (e.g. DC-Chol, see e.g. US 2006/0165717, DOTAP, DDAB and 1,2-Dialkanoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethylphosphocholin (EthylPC) liposomes, see U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,720), lipid or detergent micelles or other lipid particles (e.g. Iscomatrix from CSL or from Isconova, virosomes and proteocochleates), polymer nanoparticles or microparticles (e.g. PLGA and PLA nano- or microparticles, PCPP particles, Alginate/chitosan particles) or soluble polymers (e.g. PCPP, chitosan), protein particles such as the Neisseria meningitidis proteosomes, mineral gels (standard aluminum adjuvants: AlOOH, AlPO₄), microparticles or nanoparticles (e.g. Ca₃(PO₄)₂), polymer/aluminum nanohybrids (e.g. PMAA-PEG/AlOOH and PMAA-PEG/AlPO₄ nanoparticles) O/W emulsions (e.g. MF59 from Novartis, AS03 from GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) and W/O emulsion (e.g. ISA51 and ISA720 from Seppic, or as disclosed in WO 2008/009309). For example, a suitable adjuvant emulsion for the process according to the present invention is that disclosed in WO 2007/006939.

2) The natural extracts such as: the saponin extract QS21 and its semi-synthetic derivatives such as those developed by Avantogen, bacterial cell wall extracts (e.g. micobacterium cell wall skeleton developed by Corixa/GSK and micobaterium cord factor and its synthetic derivative, trehalose dimycholate).

3) The stimulators of innate immunity receptors such as: natural or synthetic TLR agonists (e.g. synthetic lipopeptides that stimulate TLR2/1 or TLR2/6 heterodimers, double stranded RNA that stimulates TLR3, LPS and its derivative MPL that stimulate TLR4, E6020 and RC-529 that stimulate TLR4, flagellin that stimulates TLR5, single stranded RNA and 3M's synthetic imidazoquinolines that stimulate TLR7 and/or TLR8, CpG DNA that stimulates TLR9, natural or synthetic NOD agonists (e.g. Muramyl dipeptides), natural or synthetic RIG agonists (e.g. viral nucleic acids and in particular 3′ phosphate RNA).

These adjuvants may also be used in combination. Preferred combinations are those between the particulate adjuvants and natural extracts and those between particulate adjuvants and stimulators of innate immunity receptors.

For the following examples, the prilling apparatus IE-50R Encapsulator Research, from Inotech (CH) and a 300 μm nozzle head were used to generate the micropellets.

Example 1 Manufacturing of Thermo-Stable Dry Vaccine Under Micropellet Form Containing Flu Antigens

This study compared the thermo-stability of the current liquid trivalent flu vaccine to dry formulations of this same vaccine processed with the micro pellet technology. Trivalent flu vaccine contains 30 μg/ml of each A/Salomon, B/Malaysia and A/Wisconsin strains in the vaccinal buffer. Formulated liquid products to be dried were obtained by mixing one volume of trivalent flu vaccine with one volume of a stabilizing formulation comprising at least one carbohydrate which concentration ranges between 4% (w/v) and limit of solubility. This corresponds to a concentration range from 2% to 32% (weight by volume) in the formulated liquid product to be dried. Two formulations were evaluated: SG1 and SG2 which compositions are given in tables 1 and 2:

TABLE 1 SG1 COMPONENTS quantity for 1000 ml Sucrose 200 g Adjustment pH @ 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water PPI 1000 ml

TABLE 2 SG2 COMPONENTS quantity for 1000 ml Sucrose 200 g Glutamine 2 g Urea 10 g Dextrane 70 10 g Adjustment pH @ 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water PPI 1000 ml

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure.

FIG. 2 shows the process that was used to generate the dry micropellets of formulations SG1 and SG2.

Formulated liquid product SG1 and SG2 were prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets. Prilling parameters for this formulation and a 300 μm nozzle head were:

-   -   Product flow rate: 8 ml/min     -   nozzle frequency: 954 Hz

These droplets fell in a cryogenic chamber in which the temperature was maintained below −110° C. by direct injection of liquid nitrogen or by flowing countercurrent very cold gas (t°<−110° C.). The droplets froze during their fall and formed calibrated frozen particles.

These frozen particles were then transferred on pre-cooled trays at −50° C. and loaded on the pre-cooled shelves of the freeze-drier (−50° C.) in order to always keep the frozen pellets below their glass transition (which was evaluated between −30° C. and −40° C.) and to avoid any melting or aggregation of the particles. Once the freeze-dryer was loaded, vacuum was pulled in the freeze-drying chamber to initiate conventional freeze-drying of the pellets as know by the state of the art. For these formulations, the following freeze-drying parameters were used: Primary drying: shelf temperature equal to −35° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 10 h. Secondary drying: shelf temperature equal to 20° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 3 h. Residual moisture of the micropellets was below 2% for both SG1 and SG2 formulations.

FIG. 8 gives an idea of the very narrow size distribution obtained with this pelletizing and drying technology.

Therefore, 3 products were available for a thermo-stability study: The marketed trivalent flu vaccine (VAXIGRIP®, Sanofi Pasteur), the dry micropellets SG1 formulation (trivalent flu vaccine) and the dry micropellets SG2 formulation (trivalent flu vaccine).

Samples of each of these 3 formulations were exposed to different time at 37° C. and 45° C. Potency (μg of antigen/ml) was then measured for each sample by SRD (SRID) method (M. S. Williams, Veterinary Microbiology, 37 (1993) 253-262). Dry samples were re-hydrated using water for injection prior to analysis. Dissolution was instantaneous. The tables 3, 4 and 5 summarize the obtained results. Results are expressed in mean value μg/ml of antigen.

TABLE 3 A/Salomon Stability at Stability 37° C. (days) at 45° C. (days) 0 7 30 90 0 7 Liquid formulation 29.8 24.3 12.1 29.8 16.4 micropellets SG1 23.2 22.5 24.9 27 23.2 24.3 micropellets SG2 26.5 24.7 28.2 29.4 26.5 25.8

TABLE 4 B/Malaysia Stability at Stability 37° C. (days) at 45° C. (days) 0 7 30 90 0 7 Liquid formulation 30 21.4 14.4 30 16.3 micropellets SG1 25.4 25.7 24.9 28.2 25.4 24 micropellets SG2 26.6 25.4 27.2 30.4 26.6 26.7

TABLE 5 A/Wisconsin Stability at Stability 37° C. (days) at 45° C. (days) 0 7 30 90 0 7 Liquid formulation 30 24.7 13.2 30 16 micropellets SG1 25.4 24.6 25.5 26.8 25.4 25 micropellets SG2 28.7 26 28.4 30.7 28.7 27.8

These results show that the dried formulations SG1 and SG2 in the micro-pellet form are much more stable than the current liquid formulation. No significant antigenicity loss was measured after up to 3 months at 37° C. and 1 week at 45° C.

Example 2 Manufacturing of Thermo-Stable Dry Vaccine Under Micropellet Form Containing Flu H5N1 (Indonesia) Antigens Adjuvanted with Aluminum Oxyhydroxide Gel

This study compared the thermo-stability of the liquid H5N1 Indonesia flu vaccine to dry formulations of this same vaccine processed with the micropellet technology according to the present invention.

The vaccine contains 65.4 μg/ml of H5N1 Indonesia strain in the vaccinal buffer, adjuvanted by aluminum oxyhydroxide gel.

Formulated liquid product to be dried was obtained by mixing one volume of H5N1 vaccine with one volume of the stabilizing formulation SG1. (cf. Example 1 for SG1 composition)

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure.

Formulated liquid product SG1 was prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets. Prilling parameters for this formulation and a 300 μm nozzle head were:

-   -   Product flow rate: 8 ml/min     -   nozzle frequency: 916 Hz

These droplets fell in a cryogenic chamber in which temperature was maintained below −110° C. by direct injection of liquid nitrogen or by flowing countercurrent very cold gas (t°<−110° C.). The droplets froze during their fall and formed calibrated frozen particles.

These frozen particles were then transferred on pre-cooled trays at −50° C. and loading on the pre-cooled shelves of the freeze-drier (−50° C.) in order to always keep the frozen pellets below their glass transition (which was evaluated between −30° C. and −40° C.) and to avoid any melting or aggregation of the particles. Once the freeze-drier was loaded, vacuum was pulled in the freeze-drying chamber to initiate conventional freeze-drying of the pellets as know by the state of the art. For these formulations, the following freeze-drying parameters were used: Primary drying: shelf temperature equal to −35° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 10 h. Secondary drying: shelf temperature equal to 20° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 3 h. Residual moisture of the micropellets was below 2%.

Micropellets samples were exposed 7 days at 37° C. and 45° C. Potency (μg of antigen/ml) was then measured for each sample by SRD method. Dry samples were rehydrated using water for injection prior to analysis. Dissolution was instantaneous. The table 6 summarizes the obtained results. Results are expressed in mean value μg/ml of antigen; N.D. stands for “Non Detectable Antigenicity”.

TABLE 6 SRD Titers μg/ml Liquid formulation Micropellet SG1 To 65.4 53.6 7 d@37° C. 52.5 51.4 7 d@45° C. <7.0 47.9 7 d@55° C. N.D. 44.9

These results show that the dried formulation SG1 in the micro-pellet form is much more stable than the current liquid formulation. No significant antigenicity loss was measured after 1 week at 37° C. and at 45° C. A loss of approximately 15% was observed after 1 week at 55° C., which is close to the precision of the assay itself.

The impact of this drying process and the rehydration of the pellets on the adjuvant properties were evaluated by measuring the aluminum oxyhydroxide particle size distribution in the formulated bulk before drying, and after dissolution of the pellets using a particle size analyzer Malvern MasterSizer 2000. The results are given FIG. 11. We observed that this process did not induced aggregation of the gel.

FIG. 12 also shows that the gel's size is maintained after thermostability incubation for at least 7 days at 37° C., 45° C. and 55° C., and demonstrates the stability of alum gel adjuvant in a micropellet form.

This example confirms the applicability of this technology to alum gel adjuvanted Flu antigens, and most generally, the feasibility to dry adjuvanted antigens with alum gels using the micropellet technology.

Example 3 Manufacturing of Thermo-Stable Dry Vaccine Under Micropellet Form Containing Non-Adjuvanted Flu H5N1 (Indonesia) and Rehydration with an Adjuvant Emulsion

This study compared the thermo-stability of the liquid H5N1 Indonesia flu vaccine to dry formulations of this same vaccine processed with the micropellet technology.

The vaccine contains 176 μg/ml of H5N1 Indonesia strain in the vaccinal buffer.

Formulated liquid product to be dried was obtained by mixing the H5N1 vaccine with the stabilizing formulation SG1, in order to target the desired antigen concentration and stabilizer contents. The formulation SG1 was evaluated (cf. Example 1 for SG1 composition)

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure.

Formulated liquid product was prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets. Prilling parameters for this formulation and a 300 μm nozzle head were:

-   -   Product flow rate: 8 ml/min     -   nozzle frequency: 997 Hz         These droplets fell in a cryogenic chamber in which the         temperature was maintained below −110° C. by direct injection of         liquid nitrogen or by flowing countercurrent very cold gas         (t°<−110° C.). The droplets froze during their fall and formed         calibrated frozen particles.

These frozen particles were then transferred on pre-cooled trays at −50° C. and loading on the pre-cooled shelves of the freeze-drier (−50° C.) in order to always keep the frozen pellets below their glass transition (which was evaluated between −30° C. and −40° C.) and to avoid any melting or aggregation of the particles. Once the freeze-drier was loaded, vacuum was pulled in the freeze-drying chamber to initiate conventional freeze-drying of the pellets as know by the state of the art. For these formulations, the following freeze-drying parameters were used: Primary drying: shelf temperature equal to −35° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 10 h. Secondary drying: shelf temperature equal to 20° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 3 h. Residual moisture of the micropellets was below 2%.

In parallel, the same formulated product was generated, filled into vials and freeze-dried normally in a standard freeze-dryer. Filled vials were loaded on pre-cooled shelves at 5° C.; the product was then frozen down to −50° C. at 1° C./min and vacuum was pulled to initiate sublimation. Primary drying parameters were: shelf temperature equal to −18° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 16 h. Secondary drying parameters were: shelf temperature equal to 37° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 2 h.

Residual moisture of the freeze-dried product was also below 2%.

Micropellet and liquid samples were exposed to different time at 37° C., 45° C. and 55° C. Freeze-dried samples were exposed at 37° C. and 55° C. Potency (μg of antigen/ml) was then measured for each sample by SRD method. Dry samples were rehydrated using water for injection (WFI) prior to analysis. Dissolution was instantaneous. The tables 7, 8 and 9 summarize the obtained results respectively for a standard liquid formulation, dried micropellets and the freeze-dried product. Results are expressed in mean value μg/ml of antigen. Initial SRD Titer at To corresponds to the measured titer after reconstitution of the micropellets after processing.

TABLE 7 Initial SRD Titer: To = 14.1 μg/ml Liquid H5N1 Stability study Time SRD Titers μg/ml 7 days 1 month 3 months Thermostability at 37° C. 11.6 5 <5 Thermostability at 45° C. 3.4 <5 <5 Thermostability at 55° C. <5 <5 <5

TABLE 8 Dry micropellets H5N1 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 47.2 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml, Time Rehydration WFI 7 days 1 month 3 months Thermostability at 37° C. 53 47.3 50.1 Thermostability at 45° C. 51.6 47 41.1 Thermostability at 55° C. 49.5 45.4 47.3

TABLE 9 Freeze-dried H5N1 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 39.4 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml, Time Rehydration WFI 14 days 1 month Thermostability at 37° C. 36.9 38.1 Thermostability at 55° C. 35.6 35.1

These results show that the dried formulation SG1 in the micro-pellet form is much more stable than the current liquid formulation. No significant antigenicity loss was measured after 3 months at 37° C., 45° C. and 55° C. Results given table 9 confirm that standard freeze-drying also provides good thermostability.

Moreover, the data given table 10 show that no antigenicity loss was measured after 9 months at +5° C. These results are very promising for long term stability at +5° C. and room temperature over a several year time period.

The feasibility of rehydrating the H5N1 micropellets with an emulsion has been studied. The emulsion used for this study is the one described in the patent application WO 2007/006939. The same experimental plan as table 8 was performed but samples were rehydrated with the emulsion rather than water for injection. The results are given table 10 and table 11:

TABLE 10 H5N1 micropellet H5N1 micropellet formulation formulation To + 9 months at (μg/ml)at To (μg/ml) + 5° C. After Drying. 47.2 54.8 Rehydration WFI After Drying. 49.2 51 Rehydration Emulsion

TABLE 11 Dry H5N1 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 49.2 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml. Time Rehydration Emulsion 7 days 1 month 3 months Thermostability at 46.5 42.6 47.8 37° C. Thermostability at 43.1 46.1 46.5 45° C. Thermostability at 41.8 42.7 41.7 55° C.

Table 10 proves that the dissolution of the micropellets with an emulsion as adjuvant does not impact the stability of the antigen and therefore its recovery. Table 11 confirms that this statement is also verified after thermostability incubation of the micropellets as all measured titers are comparable with titers measured after dissolution with water for injection.

FIG. 14 shows a comparison of the size of the emulsion before rehydration of these micropellets and after dissolution. The superposition of the two size distributions confirms that the size of the emulsion, and therefore its integrity, is not significantly altered by the rehydration of a freeze-dried matrix. The size distribution remains monomodal and centered on 100 nm. Moreover, FIG. 15 confirms the stability of the size of the emulsion after dissolution of the micropellets and over a one hour storage period at room temperature.

This study confirms that, thanks to the micropellet technology, it is possible to use the adjuvant as a dissolution buffer and to avoid all interaction between the adjuvant and the antigen during the shelf life of the product.

Example 4a Manufacturing of a Thermo-Stable Dry Vaccine Under Micropellet Form Containing Non-Adjuvanted Flu H5N1 (Indonesia) with Different Sugars Used as Stabilizers

This study shows the preparation of 3 stabilized dry influenza vaccine compositions each comprising a different disaccharide (trehalose, lactose and maltose respectively) and the thermo-stability of such dry compositions processed with the micropellet technology.

The vaccine contains 131 μg/ml of H5N1 Indonesia strain in the vaccinal buffer.

The formulated liquid products to be dried were obtained by mixing the H5N1 vaccine with the stabilizing formulations SG5, SG6 and SG7, respectively (see tables 12a, 12b and 12c), in order to target the desired antigen concentrations and stabilizer contents.

TABLE 12a SG5 COMPONENTS quantity for 1000 ml Trehalose  200 g Adjustment pH @ 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water PPI 1000 ml

TABLE 12b SG6 COMPONENTS quantity for 1000 ml Lactose  200 g Adjustment pH @ 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water PPI 1000 ml

TABLE 12c SG7 COMPONENTS quantity for 1000 ml Maltose  200 g Adjustment pH @ 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water PPI 1000 ml

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the principle of the formulation and drying procedure with SG1 stabilizer as an example. Identical flowchart was used with SG5, SG6 and SG7 to obtain a disaccharide concentration of 15.4% (w/v) in the formulated product prior to prilling.

Each of the 3 formulated liquid products was prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets. Prilling parameters for these formulation and a 300 μm nozzle head were:

-   -   Product flow rate: 8 ml/min     -   nozzle frequency: ranging from 994 Hz and 1001 Hz depending on         the formulation

These droplets fell in a cryogenic chamber in which the temperature was maintained below −110° C. by direct injection of liquid nitrogen or by flowing countercurrent very cold gas (t°<−110° C.). The droplets froze during their fall and formed calibrated frozen particles.

These frozen particles were then transferred on pre-cooled trays at −50° C. and loading on the pre-cooled shelves of the freeze-drier (−50° C.) in order to always keep the frozen pellets below their glass transition (which was evaluated between −30° C. and −40° C.) and to avoid any melting or aggregation of the particles. Once the freeze-drier was loaded, vacuum was pulled in the freeze-drying chamber to initiate conventional freeze-drying of the pellets as know by the state of the art. For these formulations, the following freeze-drying parameters were used: Primary drying: shelf temperature equal to −35° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 10 h. Secondary drying: shelf temperature equal to 20° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 3 h. Residual moisture of the micropellets was below 2%.

Micropellets samples were exposed to different time at 37° C. and 55° C. Potency (μg of antigen/ml) was then measured for each sample by SRD method. Dry samples were rehydrated using water for injection (WFI) prior to analysis. Dissolution was instantaneous. The tables 12d, 12e and 12f summarize the obtained thermostability results respectively for each of the 3 compositions in the form of dried micropellets. Results are expressed in mean value μg/ml of antigen. Initial SRD Titer at To corresponds to the measured titer after reconstitution of the micropellets after processing.

TABLE 12d Dry micropellets H5N1 + SG5 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 61.5 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml, Time Rehydration WFI 14 days 1 month Thermostability at 57.7 58.7 37° C. Thermostability at 57.2 58.9 55° C.

TABLE 12e Dry micropellets H5N1 + SG6 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 60.2 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml, Time Rehydration WFI 14 days 1 month Thermostability at 53.0 50.5 37° C. Thermostability at 52.4 53.1 55° C.

TABLE 12f Dry micropellets H5N1 + SG7 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 52.9 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml, Time Rehydration WFI 14 days 1 month Thermostability at 52.8 49.6 37° C. Thermostability at 50.4 51.2 55° C.

These results confirm a similar stability profile for a wide range of saccharide excipients used as stabilizer.

Example 4b Manufacturing of a Thermo-Stable Dry Vaccine Under Micropellet Form Containing Non-Adjuvanted Flu H5N1 (Indonesia) with 2% (W/V) Sucrose in the Formulated Bulk Ready to be Processed

The vaccine contains 176 μg/ml of H5N1 Indonesia strain in the vaccinal buffer.

The formulated liquid product to be dried was obtained by mixing the H5N1 vaccine with the stabilizing formulation SG8, in order to target the desired antigen concentration and a stabilizer content of 2% (w/v). Table 12g shows the composition of the stabilizing formulation SG8.

TABLE 12g SG8 COMPONENTS quantity for 1000 ml Sucrose  26 g Adjustment pH @ 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water PPI 1000 ml

The micropellets made from the formulated liquid bulk containing 2% w/v sucrose (liquid bulk formulated with SG8) were obtained as described in example 4a. FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure.

The micropellet samples were exposed to different time at 37° C. and 55° C. Potency (μg of antigen/ml) was then measured for each sample by SRD method. Dry samples were rehydrated using water for injection (WFI) prior to analysis. Dissolution was instantaneous. Table 12h shows the obtained results for the dried micropellets. The results are expressed in mean value μg/ml of antigen. Initial SRD Titer at To corresponds to the measured titer after reconstitution of the micropellets right after processing.

TABLE 12h Dry micropellets H5N1 + SG8 Stability study Initial SRD Titer: To = 39.6 μg/ml SRD Titers μg/ml, Time Rehydration WFI 14 days 1 month Thermostability at 37° C. 32.9 33.6 Thermostability at 55° C. 34.71 34.0

Example 5 Study of the Impact of Micropellet Processing on Adjuvanted Diphtheria Toxoid (Dt) and Tetanus Toxoid (Tt) Vaccines

The first part of this study evaluated the stability of TetanusTt and Dt antigens freeze-dried in a micropellet form either with or without pre-adsorption on aluminum gel ALOOH. Five formulations were prepared as described below.

Formulated liquid products to be dried containing DiphtheriaDt or TetanusTt in presence of aluminum gel were obtained by mixing a given volume of Diphtheria or Tetanus toxoid concentrated bulk with aluminum gel and a stabilizer in order to obtain the following composition:

-   -   Dt (Diphteria toxoid) formulated product: 200 Lf/ml of antigen         and 0.8 mg/ml of aluminum gel     -   Tt (Tetanus toxoid) formulated product: 40 Lf/ml of antigen and         0.8 mg/ml of aluminum gel

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure of these two formulations

Formulated liquid products to be dried containing DiphtheriaDt or TetanusTt without aluminum gel were obtained by mixing a given volume of Diphtheria or Tetanus toxoid concentrated bulk with a stabilizer in order to obtain the following composition:

-   -   Dt (Diphteria toxoid) formulated product: 500 Lf/ml of antigen     -   Tt (Tetanus toxoid) formulated product: 100 Lf/ml of antigen

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure of these two formulations.

Antigen contents for Diphtheria toxoid and Tetanus toxoid were measured using the rocket immuno-electrophoresis test, as performed by the state of the art.

Formulated liquid product to be dried containing only aluminum gel is obtained by mixing a given volume aluminum gel with a stabilizer in order to obtain the following composition:

-   -   Aluminum gel ALOOH formulated product: 2.4 mg/ml

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of the formulation and drying procedure of this formulation. The composition of the stabilizer used for this experiment, called SDT-1, is given in the table below:

TABLE 13 SDT-1 Quantity for 1000 ml Sucrose 100 g Trehalose 100 g Tris 50 mM 6,055 g pH adjustment 7.0 +/− 0.2 (NaOH, HCl) Water for injection 1000 mL

Formulated liquid products were prilled in order to generate calibrated droplets. Prilling parameters for these formulations and a 300 μm nozzle head are summarized in the table below:

TABLE 14 Diphtheria Tetanus Diphtheria Tetanus toxoid + toxoid + toxoid toxoid Al gel Al gel Al gel Flow rate 8 ml/min 8 ml/min 8 ml/min 8 ml/min 8 ml/min Frequency 1487 1543 1223 1282 1479 (Hz) These droplets fell in a cryogenic chamber in which temperature was maintained below −110° C. by direct injection of liquid nitrogen or by flowing countercurrent very cold gas (t°<−110° C.). The droplets froze during their fall and formed calibrated frozen particles.

These frozen particles were then transferred on pre-cooled trays at −50° C. and loading on the pre-cooled shelves of the freeze-drier (−50° C.) in order to always keep the frozen pellets below their glass transition (which was evaluated between −30° C. and −40° C.) and to avoid any melting or aggregation of the particles. Once the freeze-drier was loaded, vacuum was pulled in the freeze-drying chamber to initiate conventional freeze-drying of the pellets as know by the state of the art. For these formulations, the following freeze-drying parameters were used: Primary drying: shelf temperature equal to −35° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 10 h. Secondary drying: shelf temperature equal to 20° C., pressure equal to 50 μbars during 3 h. Residual moisture of the micropellets was below 2%.

Micropellets samples were exposed at 37° C. and 55° C. Potency (Lf/ml) was measured for each sample by rocket immuno-electrophoresis test. Dry samples were re-hydrated using water for injection prior to analysis. Dissolution was instantaneous.

Diphtheria toxoid stability results:

TABLE 15 Diphtheria Toxoid Time (days) Target = 100 Lf/ml 0 14 30 90 Stability at 37° C. (Lf/ml) 98.5 100.3 100 86.7 Stability at 55° C. (Lf/ml) 98.5 102.2 104 87.6 These results confirm no significant loss after up to 1 month at 37° C. and 55° C. and only about 13% loss after 3 months, which is at the limit of significance. Moreover, incubation of micropellets containing Diphtheria toxoid and alum gel showed that at all time points and all tested temperatures, 100% of the antigen remained adsorbed to the gel after dissolution. The observed stability of the gel size distribution after dissolution and thermo-stability study showed similar results as for flu H5N1 adjuvanted with alum gel (see example 2).

Tetanus toxoid stability results:

TABLE 16 Tetanus Toxoid Time (days) Target = 20 Lf/ml 0 14 30 90 Stability at 37° C. (Lf/ml) 18.1 21.8 20.1 17.1 Stability at 55° C. (Lf/ml) 18.1 21.8 20.9 18

These results confirm no significant loss after up to 3 months at 37° C. and 55° C. Moreover, incubation of micropellets containing Tetanus toxoid and alum gel showed that at all time points and all tested temperatures, 100% of the antigen remained adsorbed to the gel after dissolution. The observed stability of the gel size distribution after dissolution and thermo-stability study showed similar results as for flu H5N1 adjuvanted with alum gel (see example 2).

These data confirm that the micropellet process allows obtaining thermostable dry adjuvanted or non-adjuvanted Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoid vaccines, when properly formulated, in terms of potency, adsorption state and adjuvant quality, up to 3 months at 55° C. without significant degradation. Moreover, aluminum gel could successfully be freeze-dried using the micropellet technology maintaining a comparable size distribution and avoiding massive aggregation.

Example 6 Study of the Impact of Micropellet Processing on Aluminum Gel Characteristics: Interactions with T (Tetanus Toxoid)

In this example, micropellets generated in example 5 were used. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of the micropellet processing on aluminum gel AlOOH adsorption capacity.

In 3 ml vials, a constant quantity of aluminum gel AlOOH of 0.3 mg, initially in a liquid or micropellet form, was mixed with different quantity of Tetanus toxoid (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 et 0.75 mg total), initially in a liquid or micropellet form as well.

5 experiments were performed:

-   -   Series 1: liquid mix of liquid aluminum gel AlOOH and bulk         Tetanus toxoid antigen, in the absence of stabilizer     -   Series 2: liquid mix of dissolved Aluminum gel AlOOH         micropellets and bulk Tetanus toxoid antigen     -   Series 3: liquid mix of liquid aluminum gel AlOOH, bulk Tetanus         toxoid antigen and stabilizer     -   Series 4: liquid mix of liquid aluminum gel AlOOH and dissolved         Tetanus toxoid micropellets     -   Series 5: Liquid mix of dissolved aluminum gel AlOOH         micropellets and dissolved Tetanus toxoid micropellets         Water and stabilizer contents were adjusted before dissolution         of the micropellets in order to obtain a rehydrated solution         strictly identical in all stabilizer containing formulations         (Series 2 to 5).

After mixing the liquid products, the vials were incubated at room temperature in a wheel agitator during 2 hours and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm during 5 minutes. The non adsorbed Tetanus toxoid was quantified in the supernatant by Micro Bradford technique (Bio Rad protein assay). A Tetanus toxoid reference was tested for each series of samples in order to have a quantitative assay. The obtained results are summarized in the table below:

TABLE 17 Presence Tetanus toxoid Average of adsorption capacity mg toxoid/mg stabilizer mg toxoid/mg gel gel Series 1 No 0.49 0.61 ± 0.12 0.72 Series 2 yes 0.67 0.60 ± 0.07 0.54 Series 3 yes 0.82 0.76 ± 0.22 0.54 0.92 Series 4 yes 0.57 0.64 ± 0.08 0.72 Series 5 yes 0.59 0.86 ± 0.26 1.06 0.91

These results confirm that the presence of a stabilizer does not have any significant negative impact on the adsorption capacity of the gel. Moreover, micropellet processing does not impact significantly, taking into account the variability of the method, adsorption capacity of alum gel when applied on Tetanus toxoid and/or alum gel. 

1. A process for stabilizing an influenza vaccine composition comprising: a) diluting a liquid bulk composition comprising an influenza antigen or an antigenic preparation from a seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain with an aqueous solution comprising a carbohydrates a sugar alcohol, or a mixture thereof in order to obtain a diluted composition solution wherein the concentration of the carbohydrate, sugar alcohol, or mixture thereof from 2% (w/v) to the limit of solubility, b) subjecting the diluted composition solution to a process forms regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, c) subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles, and d) drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm.
 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drying occurs by lyophilization.
 3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drying occurs by atmospheric freeze-drying, fluidized bed drying, vacuum rotary drum drying, stirred freeze-drying, vibrated freeze-drying, or microwave freeze-drying.
 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carbohydrate is a disaccharide.
 5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the carbohydrate is sucrose.
 6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid bulk composition further comprises one or more additional influenza antigens or antigenic preparations, each from a different seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain, in order to obtain dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, each comprising two or more influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from two or more different seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strains.
 7. The process as claimed in claim 6, further comprising dosing and filling the dry regular spherical micropellets or particles into a vial or other appropriate container.
 8. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid bulk composition comprises one or more influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from one seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain, in order to obtain dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, each comprising influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from the same seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain.
 9. The process as claimed in claim 8, further comprising dosing, blending and filling into a vial or other appropriate container two or more types of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, wherein each type of micropellets comprises influenza antigens or antigenic preparations from a different seasonal, pre-pandemic or pandemic influenza virus strain than the other type.
 10. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the addition of an aqueous solution comprising one or more adjuvants and, optionally, a stabilizer to the liquid bulk antigen composition.
 11. The process as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, a) diluting a separate liquid bulk solution or emulsion of one or more adjuvants by with an aqueous solution comprising a stabilizer, b) subjecting the diluted adjuvant solution or emulsion to a process that forms regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, c) subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles, d) drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, e) and blending and filling the dry regular spherical micropellets or particles into a vial or other container together with the antigen containing dry regular spherical micropellets.
 12. The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of liposomes, lipid or detergent micelles or other lipidic particles, polymer nanoparticles or microparticles, soluble polymers, protein particles, mineral gels, mineral micro- or nanoparticles, polymer/aluminum nanohybrids, oil in water or water in oil emulsions, saponin extracts, bacterial cell wall extracts, stimulators of innate immunity receptors, in particular natural or synthetic TLR agonists, natural or synthetic NOD agonists and natural or synthetic RIG agonists.
 13. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the influenza virus strains are selected from the group consisting of H5N1, H9N2, H7N7, H2N2, H7N1 and H1N1.
 14. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the influenza virus strains are selected from the group of the seasonal influenza virus strains.
 15. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the influenza antigen is in a form of purified whole influenza virus, inactivated influenza virus, or sub-unit components of influenza virus.
 16. The process as claimed in claim 15, wherein the inactivated influenza virus is a split influenza virus.
 17. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the influenza antigen is derived from cell culture.
 18. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the influenza antigen is produced in embryonic eggs.
 19. A stabilized dry influenza vaccine composition in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm obtainable obtained by the process according to claim
 1. 20. The composition as claimed in claim 19 wherein each regular bead or particle comprises one or more influenza antigens from only one influenza virus strain.
 21. The composition as claimed in claim 19 wherein each regular bead or particle comprises one or more influenza antigens from one or more different influenza virus strains.
 22. The composition as claimed in claim 19 further comprising an adjuvant.
 23. The composition of claim 22, wherein the adjuvant is contained in separate dry regular spherical micropellets or particles.
 24. A process for stabilizing an adjuvant containing vaccine composition comprising, a) diluting a liquid bulk composition comprising an antigen or an antigenic preparation with an aqueous solution comprising a stabilizer, b) subjecting the diluted composition to a process that forms regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, c) subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles, and d) drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm.
 25. The process as claimed in claim 24, further comprising adding an aqueous solution comprising one or more adjuvants and, optionally, a stabilizer to the liquid bulk antigen composition.
 26. The process as claimed in claim 24, further comprising, a) diluting a separate liquid bulk solution or emulsion of one or more adjuvants with an aqueous solution comprising a stabilizer, b) subjecting the diluted adjuvant solution or emulsion to a process that forms regular droplets having a diameter of approximately from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, c) subjecting the regular droplets to freezing in a freezing medium to form frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles, d) drying the frozen regular spherical micropellets or particles to form dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter of from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm, and e) blending and filling the dry regular spherical micropellets or particles into a vial or other container together with the antigen containing dry regular spherical micropellets.
 27. The process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the liquid bulk composition further comprises one or more additional antigens or antigenic preparations, each from a different pathogen or serotype of a pathogen, and wherein the dry regular spherical micropellets or particles each comprise two or more antigens or antigenic preparations from two or more different pathogens or serotypes of a pathogen.
 28. The process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the liquid bulk composition comprises an antigen or antigenic preparation from one a single pathogen or serotype of a pathogen, and wherein the dry regular spherical micropellets or particles each comprises antigens or antigenic preparations from the same pathogen or serotype of a pathogen.
 29. The process as claimed in claim 28, further comprising dosing, blending and filling into a vial or other container two or more types of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles, wherein each type of micropellets comprises antigens or antigenic preparations from two or more different pathogens or serotypes of a pathogen.
 30. The process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the drying occurs by the method of lyophilization.
 31. The process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the drying occurs by atmospheric freeze-drying, fluidized bed drying, vacuum rotary drum drying, stirred freeze-drying, vibrated freeze-drying, or microwave freeze-drying.
 32. The process as claimed in claim 24, wherein the stabilizer is a monosaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a sugar alcohol, or a mixture thereof.
 33. A stabilized dry vaccine composition comprising one or more antigens which composition is in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm obtained by the process according to claim
 24. 34. The composition as claimed in claim 33 wherein each regular bead or particle comprises only one type of antigen.
 35. The composition as claimed in claim 33 wherein each regular bead or particle comprises one or more different types of antigens.
 36. The composition as claimed in claim 33 further comprising an adjuvant.
 37. The composition of claim 36, wherein the adjuvant is contained in separate dry regular spherical micropellets or particles.
 38. The composition as claimed in any claim 33 wherein the antigen or the antigens are selected from the group consisting of live attenuated and inactivated whole viruses or antigenic components of viruses, such as Polio, Influenza Rotavirus, cytomegalo virus and Hepatitis A and B, and whole bacteria or bacterial protein or polysaccharide antigens, conjugated or non-conjugated, such as meningococcal polysaccharides, Tetanus, Diphteria, cellular and acellular pertussis, Botulism and Anthrax.
 39. A process for the preparation a vaccine comprising reconstituting the composition according to claim 19 or 33 in an aqueous solution.
 40. The process as claimed in claim 39, wherein the aqueous solution comprises an adjuvant.
 41. A vaccine kit, comprising a first container containing a stabilized dry vaccine composition in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles according to claim 19 or 33 and a second container containing an aqueous solution for the reconstitution of the vaccine.
 42. The kit as claimed in claim 41 wherein the aqueous solution comprises an adjuvant.
 43. The kit as claimed in claim 41 wherein it comprises a third container containing a stabilized dry adjuvant composition in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles.
 44. A method of stockpiling a stable dry bulk of antigens wherein the antigen or the antigens is/are stabilized by a method according to claim 1 or 24 and the resulting stabilized vaccine composition is reconstituted with an adequate solvent and optionally formulated prior to liquid filling into vials or syringes after storage in the form of dry regular spherical micropellets or particles having a diameter from about 200 μm to about 1500 μm. 